Safety device for firearms

ABSTRACT

A safety device for inserting in the barrel of a firearm to prevent anyone from cocking, loading or firing the gun as long as the device is in position. The device comprises a plug which fits in each end of the barrel connected together by a flexible cable or similar member which is locked in position at the muzzle end of the gun. Both plugs are provided with vent openings to permit air circulation through the barrel when the device is installed. The plug which fits into the chamber has special radial flanges which engage the cartridge extractor and prevent the gun from being cocked. A special telescoping cable extension is provided on the muzzle end to hold the connecting cable taut while the device is being locked in the barrel.

United States Patent 1 Cornett et al.

Jan. 16, 1973 [54] SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS [76] Inventors: Earl J. Cornett; Gene E. Cornett,

both of 1107 Bellview Avenue, Barbertown, Ohio 44203 [22] Filed: July 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 56,451

[52] US. Cl. ..42/l N [51] ....F4lc 27/00, F4lc 17/08 [58] Field of Search ..42/l N [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,957 6/1964 lngalls ..42/l N 2,887,807 5/1959 Santangelo... .....42/l N 2,985,979 5/1961 Doyle et al. .....42/l N 2,327,334 8/1943 Parker ..42/1 N 2,478,098 8/1949 Hansen ..42/l N 2,763,081 9/1956 l-Iuckabee ..42/l N FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. lBorchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Paul E. Milliken [57] ABSTRACT A safety device for inserting in the barrel of a firearm to prevent anyone from cocking, loading or firing the gun as long as the device is in position. The device comprises a plug which fits in each end of the barrel connected together by a flexible cable or similar member which is locked in position at the muzzle end of the gun. Both plugs are provided with vent openings to permit air circulation through the barrel when the device is installed. The plug which fits into the chamber has special radial flanges which engage the cartridge extractor and prevent the gun from being cocked. A special telescoping cable extension is provided on the muzzle end to hold the connecting cable taut while the device is being locked in the barrel.

14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJM 16 1915 r @N Ill INVENTORS. EARL J CORNETT BY GENE E COR/V577 ATTORNEY SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS PRIOR ART The closest prior art known to applicant are US. Pat. No. 2,478,098 issued to C. K. Hansen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,957 issued to B. W. Ingalls and [1.8. Pat. No. 3,444,639. All these three patents relate to various devices for blocking the chamber of a firearm to prevent insertion of a shell or cartridge.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is to provide a safety device for firearms which is simple to install but difficult to remove without the proper key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device for firearms which may be adjusted to the particular length of barrel in which it is being used.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a safety device which is vented to permit air circulation in the gun barrel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a firearm safety device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be folded compactly to take up little space when not in use in the gun.

These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent as the description proceeds in the following specification and the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a firearm, in this particular case a pump type shotgun, showing the present invention in position in the barrel thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the breech end of the gun shown in FIG. 1 showing a portion of the invention positioned in the chamber;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the muzzle end of the gun shown in FIG. 1 with another portion of the invention locked in position in the gun barrel;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the hollow retainer core attached to the muzzle end of the connecting cable;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the breech portion shown in FIG. 2 with portions broken away to show the invention in the chamber being engaged by the extractor mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a muzzle engaging sleeve of the muzzle end assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the muzzle end locking plug;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the chamber plug of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the chamber vent holes therethrough;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the chamber plug shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is fragmentary view of the muzzle end of a gun showing another embodiment of the invention; an

FIG. 12 is an end view of another modified chamber plug.

plug showing DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a pump type shotgun is indicated generally by the numeral 1 having a stock 2, a barrel 3 having a chamber 4 and a muzzle 5. The gun 1 shows the bolt moved rearwardly in the cocked position leaving the shell opening 6 unobstructed. A chamber plug 7 is inserted in the chamber 4 and is connected by a flexible connector cable 8 to a locking assembly 9 in the muzzle 5. The entire safety device including the chamber plug 7, the connector cable 8 and the muzzle locking assembly 9 is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10. FIG. 2 shows the structural details of the chamber plug 7 relating to an adjustable means for attaching it to the cable 8. A pair of axial holes 11 and 12 pass through the plug 7 and terminate in a common recess 13 at the flanged end of the plug. The cable 8 is passed through the hole 1 1 toward the recess 13 then looped around in the recess 13 and returned through hole 12. A set screw 14 in an axial threaded hole 15 is tightened against the cable 8 in the hole 12. It may be seen that the cable 8 may be adjusted to any desired position with respect to the plug 7 before the set screw 14 is tightened. A vent hole 16 is shown running axially through the plug 7. A number of similar vent holes are normally provided as shown in FIGS. 8 through 10. These permit air circulation through the barrel 3 when the safety device 10 is in position so that moisture will not become trapped. in the barrel 3 and cause rust.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 the muzzle locking assembly 9 is shown positioned in the muzzle 5. The locking assembly 9 has a locking plug 17 which has an enlarged portion 18 and a smaller diamer neck portion 19. An axial center bore 20 passes through the entire plug 17 for receiving a center cable connector core 21 having a circumferential locking groove 22 adjacent one end thereof. A plastic sleeve 23 having a plurality of vent grooves 24 fits over the neck portion 19 of the locking plug 17 and engages the inside of the muzzle 5. While the sleeve 23 is shown as preferably made from plastic it made from any suitable material which will not rust and will not damage the surface of the barrel 3. The vent grooves 24 in the sleeve 23 and the vent holes 16 through the chamber plug 7 permit air circulation through the barrel 3 to prevent moisture from becoming trapped in the barrel as previously described. The cable 8 may be attached to the axially inner end of the core 21 by welding as shown in FIG. 4 or it may also be attached by crimping the core 21 over the cable.

The core 21 is provided with an axial center bore 25 running throughout its length. The center bore is reduced in diameter in the area near the groove 22 to provide a retaining ledge 26. An extension cable 27 having an enlarged spherical head 28 on the outer end is telescopingly mounted in the center bore 25 with a retainer 29 fastened to the inner end of the cable 27 to engage the ledge 26 and prevent complete withdrawal of the cable 27 from the bore 25. The purpose of the extension cable 27 is to provide :a'means for easily gripping the muzzle end of the cable 8 and holding it taut while the locking assembly 9 is being locked in position. When the locking assembly is locked the extension cable 27 may then be telescoped into the center bore 25 of the core 21 so that only the head 28 shows as in FIGS. 1 and 11.

Another modification of the muzzle locking assembly is indicated with the assembly identified by the numeral 90. The parts are identical to those of the assembly 9 in FIG. 3 except that the plasic collar or sleeve 23a in FIG. 1 1 extends around the outside of the muzzle rather than extending so far into the muzzle as does the sleeve 23. The sleeve 23a has a plurality of vent grooves 24a for air circulation in the barrel 3. This modification may be desirable on some types of guns.

In operation the safety device 10 is installed in the gun I in the following manner. The cable 8 is adjusted to the length of the gun barrel by means of the set screw 14 in the chamber plug 7. The end of the cable 8 having the core 21 is fed into the chamber 4 and through the barrel 3 until the plug 7 is in position in the chamber 4 and the core 21 is in the muzzle 5. The chamber plug 7 has a head portion 30 which has a pair of opposed radial flanges 31 which fit into a shell recess 32 at the rear end of the chamber 4 to prevent the plug 7 from sliding farther into the barrel. The muzzle locking assembly 9 is then slide over the core 21 and the plastic sleeve 23 is positioned in the muzzle 5. The extension cable 27 is used to hold the cable 8 taut while the locking plug 17 is fastened on the core 21 by means of a set screw 33 with a special contoured head 34 in a counter-sunk hole 35. A special key 36 fits the head 34 to tighten or loosen the set screw which engages the groove 22 in the core 21. Once the set screw is tightened the extension cable 27 is telescoped into the hollow bore 25 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 1 so that only the head 28 shows.

One special feature of the invention is that depending upon the circumferential position of the plug 7 in the chamber 4, the gun may be cocked or prevented from cocking. For example, if the plug 7 is circumferentially positioned as shown in FIG. 2 with the flanges 31 extending vertically up and down, the gun may be cocked. If the flanges 31 extend horizontally however, as shown in FIG. 5 then the extractor member 37 will grip the flanges 31 in the same manner that they would grip a shell or cartridge flange. However since the plug 7 is held in the chamber by the cable 8 it cannot be withdrawn by the members 37 and hence the bolt 38 cannot be moved rearwardly to cock the gun. This prevents the gun from being cocked and flred without a shell in the chamber which can be detrimental to the firing mechanism. When the plug 7 is in the horizontal position, the only way the gun can be cocked is by unlocking the muzzle locking assembly 9 with the special key 36. If on the other hand one wants to be able to slide back the bolt of the gun while the savety device is in place one only need to position the plug 7 with the flanges in the vertical position as shown in FIG. 2 where the extractor members 37 will not engage them.

When the bolt 38 is left in the closed position against the end of the plug 7 it is necessary to provide an open space at the end of the plug 7 to permit the air circulation to pass through the vent holes 16. This open space is provided by the head portion 30 which serves as a spacer between the bolt 38 and the ends of the vent holes 16 so that the end of the bolt cannot close off the holes 16. Although two vent holes 16 are shown in the plug 7 for purposes of illustration any number of holes may be used depending upon the size of the chamber plug and the requirements of the particular gun.

Another modification of venting means is shown in FIG. 12 in which a chamber plug 7a is similar to the plug 7 except that instead of the vent holes 16 it has a pair of longitudinal flutes which are positioned circumferentially opposite to each other.

One useful feature of'the plastic sleeves 23 and 23a in FIGS. 3 and 1 1 is that the sleeves may be made in different colors to indicate the different gages of guns with which the particular device may be used. In other words a red sleeve will indicate that the device is made to fit one gage of gun, a blue sleeve would indicate another gage and so forth. This permits one to easily match the proper device to the gage with which it will fit without having to read sizes printed on the device.

It may be seen that certain minor variations in materials used and means of connecting the various parts of the invention together may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention. While the chamber plug 7 is preferably made of brass or other similar material which is rust resistant any other suitable material may be used. Although a plastic coated steel cable 8 is recommended for the connector cable other suitable materials may, of course also be used. While the sleeves 23 and 23a are made preferably of nylon or a similar plastic any suitable non-rusting material may be used and it is also possible to make the locking plug 17 and the sleeve 23 as a single integral part so long as the material used is sufficiently strong. Various other modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention. 4

We claim:

1. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end, the device comprising:

A. means closing the chamber to prevent insertion of amunition therein,

B. flexible means connected to the chamber closing means and extending through the barrel to the muzzle end thereof,

C. locking means engaging the flexible means at the muzzle end of the barrel to prevent withdrawal of the flexible means and the chamber closing means from the barrel;

D. vent means in the chamber closing means and the locking means to permit air circulation through the interior of the gun barrel when the safety device is positioned in the barrel; and

E. extension means on the muzzle end of the flexible means to hold the flexible means and the chamber closing means in position in'the gun barrel while the locking means is fastened in position.

2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extension means telescopes into a hollow member at the end of the flexible means.

3. A safety device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the extension means is a flexible member.

4. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 including means to adjust the length of the flexible connecting means to fit the length of the gun barrel in which it is used.

5. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 including means on the chamber closing means to prevent the gun bolt from being slid rearwardly to cock the gun.

6. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end thereof, the device comprising:

A. a chamber plug to prevent insertion of ammunition in the chamber,

B. a flexible connector running through the interior of the gun barrel and adjustably connected to the chamber plug,

C. a locking assembly engaging the muzzle of the gun and retaining the flexible connector and the chamber plug in position in the barrel, the locking assembly comprising a locking plug with a nonmetallic sleeve thereon which fits into the muzzle of the gun, said locking plug having a set screw which engages a groove in a core member fastened to the flexible connector; and

D. vent means to permit air circulation through both the chamber plug and the locking assembly to prevent moisture from becoming trapped inside the gun barrel.

7. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the chamber plug has radial flanges which engage a cartridge extractor mechanism on the bolt of the gun to prevent the bolt from being moved to a cocked position.

8. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein a flexible extension member telescopes into the core member.

9. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the non-metallic sleeve extends over a portion of the outer surface of the gun barrel adjacent the muzzle end.

10. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the set screw in the locking plug has a special head which fits a specially contoured socket in the end of a key for locking and unlocking the device.

11. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the locking assembly is color coded to indicate the gage of the firearm with which the device is designed to be used.

12. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end thereof, the device comprising:

A. a chamber plug having a plurality of longitudinal vents therethrough,

B. means adjustable connecting said chamber plug to a flexible cable extending through the interior of the barrel and running the length thereof,

C. a locking means engaging the cable at the muzzle end of the barrel, said locking means extending for at least a short distance into the muzzle of the gun;

D. a plurality of grooves running longitudinally through the locking means to provide air circulation through the barrel in cooperation with the vents through the chamber plug; and

E. a flexible telescoping extension on the end of the flexible cable at the muzzle for holding the cable and chamber plug in position in the barrel while the locking device is locked on the cable.

13. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end, the device comprising:

A. a chamber plug to prevent insertion of amunition in the chamber;

B. flexible means connected to the chamber plug and extending through the barrel to the muzzle end thereof,

C. locking means engaging the flexible means at the muzzle end of the barrel to prevent withdrawal of the flexible means and the chamber plug from the barrel,and

e chamber plug having means to selectively regulate cocking of the firearm while the safety device is locked in position in the barrel.

14. A safety device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the the means to selectively regulate cocking is a pair of radially outwardly extending flanges on the chamber plug which engage a cartridge extractor mechanism when the chamber plug is in one relative circumferential position with respect to the barrel, but do not engage the cartridge extractor when the chamber plug is in another relative circumferential position with respect to the barrel.

STATES PATENT 'GFFEE CERT'IFFCATE @F CQR-REQ'WUN Patent No. '37l0:490 Dated January 1 6, 19 3 Inventor) J I Cornett and Gene E Cornett It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters-Patent are hereby corrected as ehown below:

In the legend,,part [76] the spelling of "Barbertown" I should be changed to Barberton ----e Signed and sea led this 10th day ofJuly 197,3.

(SEAL) Attest; v

EDWARD M.FLET CHERQJR. g Att'esting Officer Actlng CQmmlsslener of Patents gig-3 UNITED STATES I OFFICE r CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 1mm No. 3,710,49 Dated January 16, 1973 Inventor) J Cornett and Gene E Cofnett It is certified that error appears in the above-identified peter-n: and that said Letters-Patent are hereby corrected as shown below;

In the legend, part [76] the spelling of "Barbertown" should be changed to Barberton Signed and sealed this 10th day of-Julyl9 73 v (SEAL) Attst; EDWARD 'M.FLET CHER,JR. C Rene Tegtmeyer Attesting Officer Actlng Commlsslqner of Patents 

1. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end, the device comprising: A. means closing the chamber to prevent insertion of amunition therein, B. flexible means connected to the chamber closing means and extending through the barrel to the muzzle end thereof, C. locking means engaging the flexible means at the muzzle end of the barrel to prevent withdrawal of the flexible means and the chamber closing means from the barrel; D. vent means in the chamber closing means and the locking means to permit air circulation through the interior of the gun barrel when the safety device is positioned in the barrel; and E. extension means on the muzzle end of the flexible means to hold the flexible means and the chamber closing means in position in the gun barrel while the locking means is fastened in position.
 2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extension means telescopes into a hollow member at the end of the flexible means.
 3. A safety device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the extension means is a flexible member.
 4. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 including means to adjust the length of the flexible connecting means to fit the length of the gun barrel in which it is used.
 5. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 including means on the chamber closing means to prevent the gun bolt from being slid rearwardly to cock the gun.
 6. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end thereof, the device comprising: A. a chamber plug to prevent insertion of ammunition in the chamber, B. a flexible connector running through the interior of the gun barrel and adjustably connected to the chamber plug, C. a locking assembly engaging the muzzle of the gun and retaining the flexible connector and the chamber plug in position in the barrel, the locking assembly comprising a locking plug with a non-metallic sleeve thereon which fits into the muzzle of the gun, said locking plug having a set screw which engages a groove in a core member fastened to the flexible connector; and D. vent means to permit air circulation through both the chamber plug and the locking assembly to prevent moisture from becoming trapped inside the gun barrel.
 7. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the chamber plug has radial flanges which engage a cartridge extractor mechanism on the bolt of the gun to prevent the bolt from being moved to a cocked position.
 8. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein a flexible extension member telescopes into the core member.
 9. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the non-metallic sleeve extends over a portion of the outer surface of the gun barrel adjacent the muzzle end.
 10. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the set screw in the locking plug has a special head which fits a specially contoured socket in the end of a key for locking and unlocking the device.
 11. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the locking assembly is color coded to indicate the gage of the firearm with which the device is designed to be used.
 12. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end thereof, the device comprising: A. a chamber plug having a plurality of longitudinal vents therethrough, B. means adjustable connecting said chamber plug to a flexible cable extending through the interior of the barrel and running the length thereof, C. a locking means engaging the cable at the muzzle end of the barrel, said locking means extending for at least a short distance into the muzzle of the gun; D. a plurality of grooves running longitudinally through the locking means to provide air circulation through the barrel in cooperation with the vents through the chamber plug; and E. a flexible telescoping extension on the end of the flexible cable at the muzzle for holding the cable and chamber plug in position in the barrel while the locking device is locked on the cable.
 13. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a chamber in the opposite end, the device comprising: A. a chamber plug to prevent insertion of amunition in the chamber; B. flexible means connected to the chamber plug and extending through the barrel to the muzzle end thereof, C. locking means engaging the flexible means at the muzzle end of the barrel to prevent withdrawal of the flexible means and the chamber plug from the barrel, and D. the chamber plug having means to selectively regulate cocking of the firearm while the safety device is locked in position in the barrel.
 14. A safety device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the the means to selectively regulate cocking is a pair of radially outwardly extending flanges on the chamber plug which engage a cartridge extractor mechanism when the chamber plug is in one relative circumferential position with respect to the barrel, but do not engage the cartridge extractor when the chamber plug is in another relative circumferential position with respect to the barrel. 